Steam-locomotive.



P. CROSTI.

STEAM LOCOMOTIVE.

APPUcmoN mw ocT.2o, 191s.

l 277 q 55 4 Patented Sept. 3, 1918.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

rmrrn FFIFM.

PIETR() CROSTI, OF MILAN, ITALY.

STEAM-LOCOMOTIVE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 3, 1913.

Application led october 20, 1913. Serial No. 796,254.

To all 'whom 'it may concern:

Be it known 'that I, PIETRO GRosrI, subject of the King of Italy, resident of Milan, in the-Kingdom of Italy, No. 12 Via Pietro Verri, have inventednew and useful Improvements in Steam-Locomotives, of which the following is a specification.

lThis invention relates to steam locomotives, and it proposes certain hereinafterdescribed improvements in the construction of the boilerused in connection with the same, or forming parts thereof.

According to the present invention, the boiler consists of a plurality of cylinders, rigidly connected lto a common fire-box, the constructionof the parts being such as to obtain the following advantages :-.increased production of steam without exceedingly increasing either the diameters of the boiler. cylinders, or the length of the boiler tubes;

easy access to the interior of the boiler; increased area of directly-heated surface; great heig Vrit of the water level over the top Aof the irebox;and the ability to utilize gas-passages of large section; to employ two or more stokers or mechanical stoking` devices, and to maintain the center of gravity just above the geometrical axis o the locomotive.

An embodiment of the invention is shown inthe accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 isa general-side elevation ofthe locomotive.

Fig. 2 a plan of same. Fig. 3 a cross section. .Fig. 4l a frontfview.

-`Fig. 5 a diagrammatic longitudinal section of the improved boiler suited to such a locomotive. v

Fig k16 a cross section on line Aw-A (Fig. 5).

" Fig. 9v a plan ofsame.

The draw-ings are quite diagrammatic as `thestructuraldetails can vary in each case accordingto special requirements. 5o.k

" Fig. 7 across section on line B-B of the same gure.

VFiggS a longitudinal section of the ashit. Y

`Propulsion is obtained byv means oit" two I equal' groups of steam'cylinders lsituated respectively at the' ends of the locomotive and shown in the drawings as consisting, each, of ya pair of cylinders: the aXle cranks 2 are positioned one with respect to the other in such a manner as to neutralize the eii'ect of the alternate action of the two groups.

The boiler is symmetrical and is shown in Fig. 1 in dotted lines and in Fig. 2 in full lines. `It consists,'in thepresent instance, of two cylindrical metallic shells 16, which are horizontal and symmetrical with respect `to the geometrical axis of the boiler, in each rectly heated surface, or it may have secured to it,` as shown in Figs. 5 and 6, the upper ends of one or more descending bundles of free expanding water tubes 8 xed at their lower ends to one or more semi-cylindrical drums 9 which can be reached through the man-hole tubes 8.

The steam chamber 11 above the fire-boX,

`can .be reached, in Vthe latter instance,

througha man-hole or holes made in the top wall 12 of the drum 5.

In this way the water tubes 8 and the `drum or drums 9 are situated within the fire-box 6, which latter is provided with .fire-doors 17T, while the position of the water and steam conduits, and the level of the water 10 and the steam-chamber 11 depend upon vthe shape and size of the cylinders 16..'and

drum 5, forming the outer walls of the boiler upon. which may, if desired, .be mounted. the drums 13.

To reduce the displacements of the liquid mass existing in the boiler the perforated diaphragm 14 is resorted to.

At thebase of the tire-box 6 is hung the ash-pit having also a symmetrical shape, with respect tothe geometrical axis of the locomotive.

This ash-pit Figs. 8 and 9 is divided into several adjacent hopper or similarly shaped parts, (two hoppers 18 and 19 being shown in the drawing) having inclined end walls 20, 21, 22, 23. These walls are formed with air inlet passages 24-25-26-27, provided with closing doors 28-29-30-31 located above the bottom of the ash-pit and conveniently actuated by means of rods and levers 32 by the men in charge of the locomotive. Y

In the sides of the hoppers 18--19 draft openings 33 may be provided and Afitted with dampers 34 actuated by any convenient means, which allow their total or partial opening or shutting, as well as their change of direction according to the direction 1n which the locomotive is running. The bottom walls of the hoppers are provided with doors 35 which close the openings 36 for the discharge of ashes and the like; these doors can open automatically on account of the weightof the ashes which fall on them; in this case they'will be provided with a convenient counter-weight or spring, or they may be actuated by the men on the engine by means of the connecting rods 37.

The symmetrical construction of the boiler as well'as the symmetrical disposition both of the parts constituting the engine proper as well as of the water-tanks and fuel bunkers, require that this locomotive, whether'stopping or running, may be easily reached and worked at any point by the attendants in order to permit it to be driven in both directions. Therefore, with the view of obtaining the direct communication of the locomotive with the train, to control both the boiler and the gears, both when stopping and ruiming, to allow the driver to change his place to drive the locomotive according to the way it goes, standing at the farther end of the locomotive which is at the head of v the train, and, lastly, in order to prevent the isolation of the engine-driver from the staff both of the engine and'of the train, there is provided an uninterrupted corridor or passage 38, (Fig. 2), which extends entirely around the boiler and is inclosed by the outer wall 39 of the locomotive.

A Along this wall 39 are positioned syminetrically and with respect to the geometrical axis of the locomotive the boxes 40 for the fuel (four in the drawing), the end doors 4l to communicate with the tender and with the carriages, and the two hand wheels 42, also at the ends, `which are interconnected and each of which controls the locomotive as a whole.

Upon the floor and upon the inner sides of the corridor are the doors 43 4for inspecting the gears situated beneath the corridor.

Doors 44 and windows 45 situated at suitable points in the wall 39 complete the structure.

In the case of a tank-locomotive the water tanks can also be distributed symmetrically around the engine with respect to its geometrical axis and communicating with each other.

Having now described my invention and how the same is to be carried out, what I Vclaim as my invention, is:

1. A locomotive boiler, comprising a pair of endwise alining, horizontal cylindrical shells; a drum arranged between said shells and to which the inner ends thereof are rigidly secured; a fire-box, `common to both shells, arranged within said drum and having its top plate spaced below the top plate of said drum to provide a steam and water chamber therebetween; a bundle of vertical water tubes arranged wholly within said {ire-box, said tubessecured at their upper ends to the top plate of said fire-box, and opening at said ends through said top plate into said chamber; a water containing drum arranged within said lire-box to be heated directly by the fire, and to which the lower ends of said tubes are secured, to convey water thereinto from said chamber; and a bundle of horizontal tubes arranged within each shell and secured at their inner ends to the adjacent end wall of said hre-box.

2. A locomotive boiler, comprising a pair of endwise alining, horizontal cylindrical shells; a drum arranged between said shells. and to which the inner ends thereof are rig idly secured; a .fire-box, common to both shells, arrangedwithin said drum and having its top plate spaced below the top plate of said drum to providea steam and water chamber therebetween; a bundle of vertical water tubes arranged wholly within said iire-box, said tubes secured at their upper ends to the to plate of said fire-box, and opening at sai ends through said vtop plate into said chamber; av drum arranged within said lire-box and to which the lower ends of said tubes are secured; a drum mounted -above each shell and parallel therewith, said and to which the inner ends thereof are rigidly secured; `a fire-box, lcommon to both shells, arranged within said drum and havlng its top plate spaced below the topjplate of said 'drum to provide a steam and water chamber' therebetween; fa drum jmounted above and parallel with each shell and comchamber and a bundle of hori` municating intermediate its ends With the In testimony whereof I hereunto afx my adjacent shell and opening at its inner end signature in the presence of two Witnesses. into said chamber So as to constitute an extension of the latter; and a bundle of hori- PIETRO GROSTI' zontal tubes arranged Within each shell and Witnesses:

secured at their inner ends to the adjacent ENRICO VERONELLY, end Wall of said fire-box. CARLO GARRONIQUE.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. (2. 

